Trial of Ex-Punch Director: Court Frowns At EFCC For Lack Of Diligent Prosecution
Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the manner officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) were handling the trial of a former Executive Director of the Punch Newspaper, Azubike Ishekwene.
The judge questioned the integrity of the EFCC prosecuting team in prosecuting corruption cases saying the lack diligent prosecution.
Ishekwene and co-defendant Olalekan Abdul are facing an amended 15-count charge, bordering on forgery, conspiracy to forge, using false documents, making documents without authority and obtaining money by false pretence before Justice Dada.
During resumed proceedings Wednesday, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), counsel to Ishekwene had taken up the prosecution witness, Ndubuize Onyebuchi, a professor of Geology, over the disparity in his claims for deed of trust.
Adegoke also took him up on his Zenith Bank statement of account which indicated transfer of shares fund.
Responding, EFCC car ounsel, Idris Mohammed said the defence cannot question the witness on the documents on the grounds that they are not certified true copies.
In his reaction, Adegoke, explained to the court that the documents in contention were part of exhibits already admitted but were extracted by EFCC to misled the court.
When the court went through the documents already admitted, which included Zenith Bank statement of account, it was discovered that records from 2010 to 2012 were missing in the documents which ought to be from 2010 to 2019.
The development which made Justice Dada to query EFCC counsel, Mohammed Idris and frowned at the agency for lacking diligent prosecution of corruption cases.
Justice Dada recalled in another instance where there was disparity in the information in charge sheet and confessional statements of a defendant been prosecuted by the EFCC.
She recalled that the EFCC in the charge information indicated alleged fraud of $2,700 while the defendant confessional statement indicate $10,700.
Subsequently, the judge adjourned further trial till April 7.
